The other day I wanted to purchase one of the $249 Acer laptops at BestBuy, but the store I went to had performed their optimization service on the 14 still in stock. This was a $70 service I did not need or want and they wouldn't sell me the laptop at the $249 price.

I was just reading through the BestBuy Community message board and found out that if optimized systems are all they have in stock, and you do not want this service, they have to sell the item at the advertised price. In one post I read (posted by a BB admin on the board) it was indicated that BB may remove the optimization tweaks and recovery discs, which is fine by me.

So, if any of you go to buy a computer at BestBuy, they're all optimized and they won't sell you the system at the advertised price, call BB customer service while in the store. You'll most likely walk out with what you want.

Plus, you get that warm, fuzzy feeling associated with being able to inflict (if only in some small way) a little of the misery back on them that they inflict on us.

Definitely good information to know for future dealings.

Classic Worst Buy...

BB now has a TV ad where a group of motley fools sing brief pueseo-Christmas carols hawking the company. The commerical ends with a pitch for a package deal optimized by the Geek Squad clowns for a measly four figures price.

Nice to know...DSD is thinking of getting a laptop for eldest grandson...

nice find alan!

BB Employees have been forcing customers into buying "optimized" systems for so many years now. I wouldn't even have thought there was a way out.

thanks alan for the continued advice

it generally pays to be persistent

Alan, could you please post a link to the forum?

I don't believe the optimization does any good.

wow great news, I never knew that.

It also happened to be before. All out of the regular laptops but plenty of the optimized ones.

Forum link: Best Buy Unboxed : Customer Service : Best Buy and Geek Squad Policies

Some choice message posts:
Optimization and recovery CD service
See post #5 written by an admin: "In any case, if you do not want the optimization, the store must remove the software and sell you the unit at the sticker price."

My disappointing experience with pre-optimization
This directly discusses the recent $250 Acer laptop & the Optimization service

Best Buy lost a sure sale because of Pre-Optimization
See post #11 written by an admin: "Under no circumstance should any of our stores refuse to sell a pre-optimized computer at the advertised price if there are no longer any untouched units in stock. This is formal standard operating platform for all of our locations and we have made it loud and clear that anyone failing to honor this rule is subject to punishment up to and including termination."

Left store empty handed because of forced optimization on laptop
See post #24 written by an admin: "I’m not quite sure why you would have been informed that it was not possible to purchase a pre-optimized computer without the optimization services, but I apologize if you found this to be the case. It is Best Buy’s company policy to restore computers to their original factory specifications if customers do not wish these services....."

Unhappy With In store Experience and Being Forced to Buy Unwanted Geek Squad Services
See post #3 written by an admin: ".....our policy on computer pre-optimization is quite specific. Only a certain percentage of new computers can be set up in advance, for example. Most important is that you should never be forced to pay for these services if you don't want them. Our associates have procedures to follow when only pre-optiimized computers are available and you don't want the service. The store manager to whom you spoke was clearly in violation of this policy."

WM is working on putting BB under another year or 2 should do the trick.